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Arriva Rail North has formally invited the RMT Union to continue their recent talks by moving to mediated discussions at ACAS and at the same time calling off three days of planned strike action.

David Brown, Managing Director for Arriva Rail North said: “Over the last few weeks, further positive talks had taken place to find a resolution to RMT’s ongoing dispute. Having invited RMT to continue these talks this week, it is very disappointing the union has announced further strikes on 25 August, 1 and 8 September.

“We can only resolve this dispute by working jointly through meaningful talks. I am fully committed to finding a joint solution which is why I have invited RMT to these ACAS mediated talks.”

Arriva Rail North is delivering the biggest modernisation plan on the Northern network for a generation. This includes £500m of new trains now under construction, retirement of the Pacer trains, refurbishment of all 243 remaining trains, better stations and more services.

David Brown added: “As part of this modernisation, we want to work with our train crews to agree how we can operate more flexibly and deliver services that better meet the changing needs of our customers. This is why we have been holding talks with RMT in the hope of ultimately delivering for our customers through new, modern working arrangements.

“I have also called on them to suspend their planned industrial action to allow these talks to take place and not disrupt our customers over three busy weekends. There are many events planned for the Bank Holiday and I hope that the union will consider the many families making plans for the last weekend of the summer holidays.”